Question on what's a good soil!

[chickadde]

I would like to cover my chicken coop area with new fresh soil for my flock They have had the same old soil for three years and I thought it would be healthy to cover the old and bring in fresh soil. Would this be a good idea or not? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Valerie

 

[aart]

Thick layer, at least 6 inches, of 'brown' organic materials of varying sizes and shapes.
Wood chips, dry leaves, dry grass clippings, sticks, twigs, old hay and straw, etc. can create a healthy environment of organisms that will decompose chicken poops.

 

[mompom]

Wondering where DE is useful, how often to apply it, how much per square foot, and where else besides dust bath areas is it useful. we have a dirt floor in coop with raised poop deck for nest boxes and roosts. Eleven chickens that are 11 weeks old and I LOVE them!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would use barn lime, then put my other stuff on top, a lot of people use DE, but I don't because of the potential to cause damage to my lungs and my chickens lungs, don't need that in my life, grew up on a dairy farm, owned a dairy farm, always used barn lime.